On February 8, 1983, Dyno-Rod employee Michael Cattran responded to plumbing complaints made by the tenants of 23 Cranley Gardens, London.

Dennis Nilsen's Apartment

After opening the drain cover at the side of the house, Cattran discovered that the drain was packed with a flesh-like substance and numerous small bones.

Fearing that the bones could be of human origin, Cattran and his supervisor called the police.

Dennis Nilsen's Apartment
Michael Cattran opens the drain he discovered the human remains in. (Mirrorpix)

Fellow tenants told the police that the top floor apartment, suspected to be the source of the blockage, belonged to Dennis Nilsen.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay and his two colleagues opted to wait outside the house until Nilsen returned home from work.

Dennis Nilsen's Apartment

As Nilsen opened the door to his flat, police officers were hit with the stench of rotten flesh.

Dennis Nilsen's Apartment

Little did they know, this chilling discovery marked the unmasking of one of Britain’s most prolific serial killers, who had murdered at least 15 young men in the 1970s and 80s.

Dennis Nilsen's Apartment

Nilsen would strangle and drown his victims before performing sex acts on their corpses – then hide their remains under the floorboards.

Dennis Nilsen's Apartment

When questioned as to whether he had any remorse for his crimes, Nilsen replied: “I wished I could stop, but I couldn’t. I had no other thrill or happiness.”

Dennis Nilsen's Apartment

He also emphasized that he took no pleasure from the act of killing, but “worshipped the art and the act of death”.

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